Box



P 28, 1948- s. B.IDE MIAN 2,450,035

. Box

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1945 INVENTOR. STANLEY 5. 0: M/AN AGENT Sept. 28, 1948. s. B. DE MIAN BOX Filed Nov. 215, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

STANLEY a 05 M/AN AGENT Patented Sept. 28, 1948 BOX Stanley B. De Mian,

ternational Paper Company, a corporation of New York Chicago, Ill., assignor to In- New York, N. Y.,

Application November 23, 1945, SeriaiNo. 630,163 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers and particularly seeks to provide a novel fabricated box especially useful in the consumer packaglng'of apples, oranges or similar fruits. F

An object of this invention is to provide a novel.

fruit carton fabricated from a single blank of a fibrous material such as paperboard, fibreboard, corrugated board or the like. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a box of the character indicated which in its assembled form is self-locking to provide a rigid. unitary structure capable of being stacked in include a bottom panel Ill, side panels top flange panels I3 adjoining the side panels, panels I! adjoining the panels I3 and adapted to form in the assembled box upper portions of inner walls and panels i'l adjoining the panels l5 and adapted to form the lower portions of such inner walls. The ends of the bottom ID are provided with outer end wall flaps l9 and end wall top I edge panels 20' adjoining th flaps |9, as well as slightly narrower inner end wall flaps 2|. The ends of each side panel H are provided with locking flaps 22 slotted as at 23 to define corner tab multiples when packed without damage to the contents.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box of the character indicated which includes integral but depending interior wall portions which.,.coope'rate to securely hold the contents of a packed box in position without necessitating the use of a lid whereby the box is always open for visual inspection of the contents thereof,

A further object of this invention is to provide A a box of the character stated whichis adapted to be shipped to a packing house in flat or knocked down form and then to be readily assembled as the need arises in accordance with packing conditions, thereby saving valuable shipping space when such boxes are not actually employed in the transportation of consumer goods.

A further object or this invention is to provide a box of the character stated which is rugged in construction, simple in design and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the nature of which will become more apparent, the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawings, the accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one end of a symmetrical blank from which a box constructed in accordance with this invention is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the box during assembly thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the engagement of a locking ear with an inner end wall of the box;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one end of the assembled box, portions thereof being broken away in order more clearly to disclose the relationship between the various elements.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention as illustrated is formed from a blank A of corrugated board or the like cut and scored to tio'ned side wall panels symmetrically shaped tabs sections. Adjacent portions of each end of each pair of panels I3 and I5 together are provided with 24 having outwardly divergent edges which form locking ears in the assembled box. The'inner end wall flaps 2| are each provided with a pair'of triangularly shaped apertures 25- adapted to receive the locking ears 24. The bottom Ill together with side walls II and I1 may be provided with the usual ventilation holes 28. In the assembly of a box constructed in accordance with this invention the side walls ar first folded to a vertical position. after which the top flange panels l3 are folded inwardly at substantially right angles thereto. The panels l5 are then folded back under the flange panels l3 at an angle relative thereto and the dependent wall panels I! are berrt downwardly therefrom to form angularly positioned inner walls, the lower edges of which are normally positioned adjacent the junction between the bottom l0 and the side wall panels The locking flaps 22 at'each end of the side walls H are bent inwardly at right angles thereto and the corner tabs thereof are bent inwardly and down into close proximity to the adjacent faces of the tabs. Following these steps the end wall panels I9 are bent upwardly and the associated top and inner end wall panels 20 and 2| are bent inwardly towards the center of the structure. In order that the outer and inner end wall panels l9 and 2| may be closely positioned adjacent the outer and inner faces of the associated locking flaps 22 it is necessary to bend the folded side wall structures outwardly a distance sufliclent to inner end wall flaps 2| permit the insertion of the under the angularly posil5. Then the flaps 2| are bent downwardly to a vertical position and at the same time the side wall structures are returned to the initial vertical alignment. 4

Theflaps 2| are locked in their end wall forming position by the overlapping engagement of, side edge portions thereof with lower end edge close proximity with the portions of the associated inner side wall panels l1. When the side wall structures have been returned to the vertical positions'it will be noted that the locking ears 24 carried by the side wall structures will be disposed in substantial alignment with the triangularly shaped receiving apertures 25. The flnai step in the assembly or the box consists of slightly depressing the inner edges of the flanges l3 incident to thereafter inserting the locking ears 2| into the apertures 25 to thereby eflect locking of the box into a unitary structure.

It will be noted that in the assembled box the corner tab sections which are bent down into associated'locking flaps 22 inner wall panels l9 and 2| each end wall formation. As a result of bending the tab sections in this manner the slots 23 of tabs 22 are extended to form a cut away portion at the top inner corners of the tabs inthe assembled box. These cut-away portions embrace the areas occupied by the triangular apertures 25 and-thus provide a void between the end wall flaps I! and 2i for receiving the projecting end portions of the locking ears 24, the inclined edges of which are engaged with the vertical edges of the apertures to block the box into its assembled position.

When the box is assembled in this manner it will be observed that the apertures 25 have edge portions substantially parallel to the plane of the flanges l3 and other edge portions substantially parallel to the plane oi the angularly positioned panels l5 when normal position assumed prior to filling of the box. Consequently the angularly-posltioned side wall wall inner panels I! are thus free tov partake of motion relative to the outer side wall panels ll. Thus when a box constructed in accordance with this invention is fllled with fruit such as oranges or apples the inner side wall portions can yield to permit the inclusion of over-sized units of fruit. Also, the natural resiliency of the box material tends to cause these wall portions to return to the normal filling and thus the walls serve to bind the contents of a filled box in that the flanges I! together with associated angularly positioned panels ll extend inwardly of the bottom of the box and in a filled box serve to retain fruit contained therein without the necessity of employing a separate closure member. Thus the contents of a fllled box used for the consumer packaging of fruits is always visible to'an observer.

It is, of course, to be understood that various details of arrangements andproportions of parts may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, Y

I claim:

1. A box i'ormed from a singie-blank of paperboard or the like, comprising a bottom, side walls, and end walls, all of said walls being folded upwardly from said bottom, each of said side walls including an outer wall panel, a flange connected thereto and extending inwardly from the top thereof, a panel dependent from the; inner edge of said flange and folded back under said flange along a score line and at an -angle thereto, and

serve to additionally space the outer and such panels are in the I '4 wall panels and engageable with said end walls for locking all of said walls in erect position, said end walls being provided with means for receiving said locking means.

2. A box formed from a single blank of paperboard or the like, comprising a bottom, side walls, and double-ply end walls, all of said walls being folded upwardly from said bottom, means for spacing the plies of said end walls, each of said side walls including an outer wall panel, a flange connected thereto and extending inwardly from the top thereof, a panel dependent from the inner edgeof said flange and folded back under said flange at an angle thereto, and an inner wall panel dependent from said angularly positioned panel and extending into proximity to said bottom, said flange and angular panel together being provided with means projecting at each end beyond said outer and inner wall panels and engageable with said end walls for locking all of said walls in erect position, said double-ply end wall structures being provided with means for re ceiving said locking means.

3. A box formed from a single blank of paperboard'or the like, comprising a bottom, side walls, and double;pl'y end walls,- all of said walls being folded upwardly from said bottom, means for spacing the piles of said end walls, each of said side walls including an outer wall panel, a flange connected thereto and extending inward-1y from I the top thereof, a panel dependent from the inner edge of said flange and folded back under said flange at an angle thereto, and an inner panels l5 together with the dependent side position assumed prior to wall panel dependent drom said angular-1y positioned panel amfextending into proximity to said bottom, said flange and angular panel together being provided withmeans projecting at each end beyond said outer and inner wall panels and engageable with said all of said walls in erect position, the inner ply of each of said double-ply end walls being provided with means/ for receiving said locking means.

4. A box formed from a single, blank of paperboard or the like, comprising a bottom, side walls, and double-ply end walls, all of said walls being folded upwardly from said bottom, flaps carried place. It will be observed an inner wall panel dependent from said anguby said side walls and insertable between the piles of said end walls to effect spacing thereof, each of said side walls including an outer wall panel, a flange connected thereto and extending inwardly from the top thereof, a. panel dependent i'rom the inner edge of said flange and folded back under said flange at an angle thereto and an inner wall panel dependent from said angularly positioned panel and extending into proximity to said bottom, said flange and angular panel together being provided with means pro- Jecting at each end beyond said outer and inner wall panels and engageable with said end walls for locking all of said walls in erect position, said locking means being so located as to be engaged with said end walls in areas not occupied by said end wall spacing flaps, the inner ply of each of said double-ply end walls being provided with means for receiving said locking means.

5. A box formed from a single blank of paperboard or the like, comprising a bottom, side walls, and double-ply end walls, all of said walls being folded upwardly from said bottom, means for spacing the plies of said end walls, each of said outer wall panel, a flange connected thereto and extending inwardly from the top thereof, a panel dependent from the inner edge of said flange and folded back under said end walls for locking flange at an angle thereto. and an inner wall panel dependent from said angularly positioned panel and extending into proximity to said bottom. said flange and angular panel together being provided with means projecting at each end beyond said outer and inner wall panels and engageable with said end walls for looking all of said walls in erect position, the inner ply of each of said double-ply end walls being provided with a pair of apertures for receiving said looking means, each aperture having an edge dissitioned panel whereby upon the receiving of said 5 locking means in said apertures said anguiarly positioned panels together with their dependent 5 mally available for filling.

ANLEY B. DE MIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 tile oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

